Tongs or gr



No. 749,330. PATENTED JAN.`12,1904.

1 H. SAWYBR.

TUNGS 0B. GRAPPLE. v APPLIUAHON FILED sum1. 190s. No MODEL. z sHBETssHBET 1.

-PATENTBD JAN.'12, 1904. H SAWYBR TONGS 0R GRAPPLE. APPLICATION FILEDSEPT. 1, 1903.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

" No MODEL.

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Patented January 12, 1904.

UNITED STATES" PATENT "Orricia HARRY SLAWYER, OF MUSKEGON, MICHIGAN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 749,330, dated January 12, 1904. Appiioaiioi sied september 1,`1eo3.` serial No. 171,569. (no model.)

To all whom it Wawy concern: v Be it known that I, HARRY SAWYER, acitizen of the United States, residing at Muskegon,

in the county of Muskegon and State of Michigan, have inventeda new and useful Tongsoi Grapple, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to tongs or grapplcs. The object of the inventionv is to provide v tongs or grapples which are simple in construction, ecient in operation, and economical of manufacture. v

A further object of the invention is 4to provide a construction of gripping-tongs which can be operated by the usual traveling crane panying drawings, and finally pointed out in the appended claims. i.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

`Figure lis a view, in part side elevation and part longitudinal section, of a pair of tongsor grapples embodying the principles of my invention. Fig. 2 is a view, partly in side elevation and partly in longitudinal section, taken in adirection at right angles to that of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a view in side elevation, showing a i portion of a traveling crane and trolley with my improved form of tongs. l

The same part is designated by the same reference-sign wherever it occurs throughout the several views.

In the handling of ingots and other objects considerable difficulty is often found in properly attaching the lifting devices in order that the objects may be moved. This is due to their weight and bulky size and 4shape and also frequently on account of the fact that they are in a heated condition and cannot be approached to attach chains and other fastening devices. Accordingly it has been proposed to provide v tongs for this purpose which shall automat- .the lifting force. Y 569,939, I have shown such a construction of .tongs or grapples in which the jaws of the tongs are positively opened and closed by me- -l'chanical means, but which when lifting a load ically grip and retainthe load by virtue of In my prior patent, No.

`areflrmly pressed together by the tractive force.

By the present invention also the tongs are so arranged that they may be initially closed upon the work. At the same time they retain the feature of employing the tractive force to maintain the gripping-pressure and also provide for a swivel-support Iwhereby the ingot may be rotated.

Referringto the accompanying drawings, reference-sign A designates the supportinglframe, comprising a pair of parallel plates A' A', held in properly-spaced relation by any desired meansf-as, for example,` by means of `the usual pivot-bolts of the gripping-jaws, to-

`gether with the block or head M,`which will be later described. B B designate additional supporting-blocks having bolts or other means C C designate the i gripping-jaws constituting the tongs or grappling device proper. These are shown as coin- `prising bell-crank levers fulciumed on pivotbolts I) Dat the lower portion of the frame. E Edesignatelinks connecting the ends of `the jaw-levers to a common pin F. All this is the ordinary and well-known construction and forms no part of my present invention.

Gr designates a yoke 1n the form of aswlveled block at the lower end of the lifting-rod` K K designate links connecting the block or yoke G with the pin F.

The lifting-rod H may be splined or formed of octagonal or other shape, whereby it is longitudinally but not rotarily movable in a sleeve or casing L, swiveled in the head M.

N denotes a ange at the upper portion of the sleeve L, and O denotes a nut or threaded collar, which parts co-operate with the head M and limit the longitudinal movement of the sleeve therein.

P designates a spring interposed between the head M and the part or collar Qand serving to normally support the head M at the upper limit of its movement with relation to the sleeve L.

R denotes an antifriction or ball bearing raceway interposed between the collar Q and the nut O.

Q is provided with lugs which prevent its rotation relative to frame A.

S S designate sheaves or pulleys rotarily mounted upon trunnions or supports L L upon the sleeve or casing L.

T T designate guards arranged to co-operate with the sheaves or pulleys to maintain the ropes thereon.

U U denote additional sheaves or pulleys rotarily mountedA upon trunnions or supports A2 A2 upon the upper end of the lifting-rod H.

V V designate guards co-operating with the last-named pulleys.

The operation of this device will be understood from thepreceding description. The

tongs are suspended from the usual traveling to move on the traveling arm C2 of any suit-- able construction of crane. Other hoisting cables S' S are passed around the sheaves S and attached at one end of the hoisting-drum M and at the other end are secured to the stationary frame of the trolley. When an object is desired to be lifted, the tongs are moved to the proper position and the drum N rotated to slacken the cable U. This allows the sheaves U to fall with relation to the sheaves S, thereby dropping the rod H and opening-the jaws C to their widest limit of open position. The spring P exerts its eX- pansive force to support the main frame A normally in its highest position with relation to the sleeve L and the sheaves S. When the jaws are in proper position to inclose the object, the drum N/ is again rotated, but in the reverse direction and tightens the cables U', thereby closing the gripping-jaws upon the object to be moved. The drum M is now rotated to lift the load. lnasmuch as all the sheaves are now raised in unison the tendency of the lifting mechanism is to maintain the gripping-jaws in a certain set relation. 1t is desirable, however, that the jaws have exerted upon them a constant closing-prcssure, and it is the purpose of the Spring P to permit the strain of the lifting force to exert such a constant closing or gripping pressure throughout the time the load is lifted. Accordingly it is arranged in such a way that when the casing L and the rod H move upward in unison, the weight of the load being thrown on the frame A, the latter is free to move downward with relation to the sleeve or casing L, and hence with relation to the rod H, which at this time is in fixed relation to the casing L, the movement being merely opposed by the spring S. The spring S is suficiently strong to support the weight of the frame A alone, but is not sufiiciently strong to support the combined weight of the frame and load and is free to yield by reason of such added weight. Such movement cannot, however, take place without further closing the gripping-jaws upon the load with which they are already in tightened engagement. Accordingly it does not ordinarily take place except through a very small distance; but it serves to insure that a gripping force is constantly applied to the jaws. Of course if the movement of the head M upon the sleeve L extends to the limiting-stop Q the effective.- ness of the device is destroyed; but in practice a small movement of the frame is all that usually takes place.

' Owing to the splined or octagonal or other suitable form of the rod H, this rod is in fixed rotative relation with respect to the sleeve or casing L, whereby the respective sheaves S S and U U are. all held in parallel relations suitably disposed for engagement with their operatingcables. The frame A is, however, free to turn or swivel with relation to the pulleys in any direction, turning on the antifriction or ball bearings J and R. By this means the load is not only movable to any desired point, but may be swiveled to any desired position and without straining or injuring the supporting-cables.

1t is obvious that many diierent ways may suggest themselves to persons skilled in the art of connecting the pulleys to the main frame or casing, whereby the latter may be swiveled IOO IIO

with relation to said pulleys and also many movement of` said sheaves toward and 'from each other to actuate the jaws, as andfor the purpose set forth. 1

2. In a device of the'class described,a main frame having grippingjaws, a plurality of .i parts capable of longitudinal movement but fixed against rotative movement with respect to one another, and means whereby such relai tive movementis made effective to open and close the gripping-jaws, as and for the pur-` pose set forth.

3. In a device of the class described, a main frame having gripping-j aws, a plurality of supports for sheaves or pulleys capable of longitudinal movement but fixed against rotative Amovement with respect to one another, means operated by the relative movement of said supports for opening and closing the gripping- 1 jaws, and other means for imparting an additional closing movement, as and for the puri pose set forth.

4., In a device of theclass described, amain frame having grippingjaws, a plurality of 3 relatively movable supports, sheaves oi' pulleys thereon, means actuated by the relative movement of said supports for closing thejaws, and additional yielding means for imparting a gripping-pressure to said jaws, as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a device of the class described, a main frame having gripping-jaws, a plurality of parts capable of longitudinal movement with respect to one another, means whereby suoli relativemovement is made effective to open and close the gri pping-j aws, and means for eX- erting an additional closing-pressure thereon 'independent of the relative movement of the sheave or pulley supports, as and for the purpose set forth. i

6. In a device of the class described, a main frame having gripping-jaws, a plurality of parts capable of longitudinal movement with respect to one another, means operated by the relative movement of said parts for opening and closing the gripping-jaws, and other means g for imparting an additional closing movement,

as and for the purpose set forth.

7. In a device of the class described, a main frame having gripping-jaws, a plurality of parts capable of longitudinal movement with f ,v i respect to one another, means operated by such relative movement for closing the grippingjaws, the said supports being further capable of `movement in unison with respect to the main frame, and connections actuated by said i last-named movement for imposing an additional closing-pressure upon the grippingjaws, as and for the purpose set forth.

8. In a device of the class described, a main frame having grippingjaws, a plurality of supports for sheaves or pulleys capable of longitudinal movement but fixed against rotative movement with respect to one another, means operated by such relative movement forclosing the gripping-jaws, a sliding connection between saidpulley or sheave supports and the main frame, anda spring normally supporting said main frame against downward sliding movement thereon, as and for the purpose set forth.

9.` In a device of the class described, a main frame having gripping-jaws, a sheave-support slidably mounted therein'and spring-pressed downward, and a second sheave-support slidably mounted in the first-named support and operatively connected at its lower end to the gripping-j aws, as and for the purpose set forth.

10. In a device of the class described, a main frame having gripping-jaws, a sheave-support slidably mounted therein and spring-pressed downward, a pair of sheaves or pulleys mounted thereon and symmetrically disposed with respect to the center line of the tongs, a second sheave-support slidably mounted in the first-named support, and a pair of sheaves or pulleys symmetrically mounted on said second support with respect to the above-named center line, as and for the purpose set forth.

11. In a device of the class described, a main frame having gripping-jaws, actuating-links therefor, a sheave-support rotarily and slidably mounted in said frame and spring-pressed downward, a second sheave-support slidably mounted in the first-named support and rotarily connected to the actuating-links of the gripping-jaws, as and for the purpose set forth.

12. In a device of the class described, a main frame having gripping-jaws provided with actuating-links,asheave-support rotarilymounted therein, a second sheave-support slidably but non-rotarily mounted in the first-named support, a yoke swivelly mounted at the lower end of such support, and link connections therefrom with the actuating-links of the grippingjaws, as and for the purpose set forth.

13. In a device of the class described, a main frame having gripping-jaws provided with actuating-links, a sheave-support rotarily and slidably mounted therein and spring-pressed downward, a second sheave-support slidably but non-rotarily mounted in the first-named support, a yoke swivelly mounted at the lower end of such support, and link connections therefrom with the actuating-links of the grippingjaws, as and for the purpose set forth.

14. In a device of the class described, a main frame having gripping-jaws, a sheave-support rotarily mounted therein and supporting the frame on antifriction bearings, a second sheave support slidably. but non rotarily mounted in the lirst-named support, a yoke swivelly mounted at the lower end of such support and having an antifriction thrust-bearing, and links operatively connecting the same to the gripping-jaws, as and for the purpose set forth.

IIO

15. In a device ofthe class described, a main frame having gripping-jaws, a sheaVe-support rotarily and slidably mounted therein, springpressed downward and supporting the frame on antifriction-bearings, a second sheave-support slidably but non-rotarily mounted in the first-named support, a yoke swivelly mounted at the lower end of such support and having an antifriction thrust-bearing, and links operatively connecting the same to the gripping- 10 jaws, as and for the purpose set forth.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand, this 28th day of August, 1903, in the presence of the subscribing witnesses.

HARRY SAWYER.

Witnesses:

C. H. SEEM,

S. E. DARBY. 

